Today is Sweetheart's Mother's birthday. She is an amazing woman who is loved so much. She was a wonderful daughter, caring for both her parents until they passed away. Look at this face.....
...is that TJ's face, or what!!!???She is a loving Grandma and Great Grandma. My kids all love her deeply.
She was a beautiful wife to her husband, "Grandpa" who passed away a few years ago.
And an incredible sister to her 10 brothers and 1 sister. 
Her bond with Sweetheart, her only child, is deep and strong, and she is a wonderful Mother in love.
We love you Diane!!!Happy Birthday!!!
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We spent our 4th of July at my Mother in Love's home. This is the house where my husband spent summers as a child and now his own grandchildren play there. Sweetheart's grandparents lived here for many, many years. They raised 12 children (10 boys and then 2 girls)...most of them in this house. .JPG)
This section of the house was added years later by my MIL.
The house is beautiful and the land is amazing. Sweetheart spends at least one day a week here working on the lawn and visiting in the peacefulness that surrounds this place..JPG)
Butterflies swarm these flowers. My children love them. It is Zach's favorite thing!.JPG)
Just across the street is this beautiful church that chimes old hymns every hour. Amazing Grace chimed at 7 o'clock. That and the over 75 trains that go by daily are my favorite sounds of the Homestead.
My MIL would not do pictures.....she is very camera shy, but I promise next time I will not let her off! She made us a wonderful dinner of BBQ'd ribs, homemade potato salad, baked beans, fruit, garlic bread, and a relish tray. It was so good!!! I did manage this shot of her and Kyle on the deck....she can't get upset about that one!
The kids played badminton.
Emerson loved the tractor. She had a death grip on that wheel!
All the kids enjoyed a ride in the wagon..JPG)
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Once it got dark, the kids all made Smores at the fire pit..JPG)
Sweetheart built that fire pit. I want one!!!! 
Next Saturday is our family reunion (on my husband's side). Sherry is coming into town and also Sweetheart's other "out of state" sister. It will be wonderful to see all the family together. Like I said, the grandparents raised 10 boys and 2 girls....all of their children and their children's children are coming. Isn't family an incredible thing?
